Overview

• Experts advise moving bird feeders to about two metres from dense cover to reduce the risk of cat attacks while keeping a safe retreat nearby.
• Robins prefer to feed on the ground or low platforms, and they rarely use hanging feeders unless a platform or tray is provided.
• Recommended foods include mealworms, suet or fat-based pellets, high‑protein robin blends, crushed peanuts and sunflower hearts or seeds.
• Provide shallow water trays or a small pond for drinking and bathing, with an emphasis on dry summer spells when water is scarce.
• Maintain hygiene and shelter by cleaning feeders regularly, clearing nest boxes in autumn after use, and placing boxes in quiet, cat‑inaccessible spots facing north to east.